International Day of the Girl Child: Shining the spotlight on the African girl
By Ogbu Chioma
On October 11th each year, we celebrate International Day of the Girl Child. Speeches are delivered in honor of girls, events are hosted to commemorate the occasion, and girls are encouraged to take charge of their lives.
As we celebrate the girl child and tell her she can be anything she wants to be, let us not forget the harsh realities faced by the African girl child.
In terms of education, the statistics paint a grim picture.
A UNESCO report in 2022 stated that across Sub-Saharan Africa, 9.5 million girls aged 6–11 have no chance of ever attending school, compared to 5 million boys. According to a study, African countries, particularly West African nations, have some of the shortest school attendance rates for female students globally. In Liberia, for example, female students attend school for an average of 2–3 years—the lowest level in Africa and globally.
If the African girl child is not properly educated, how is she to find her place in such a fast-paced world?
The issue of menstrual financial strain significantly impacts the African girl, especially those in rural or conflict-affected areas.
According to WHO and UNICEF datadata, 1 in 20 adolescent girls in urban Ethiopia use no sanitary materials. In rural Ethiopia, this number increases to 1 in 5 girls.
In Northern Nigeria, displaced girls in refugee camps struggle to maintain menstrual hygiene. These girls often resort to using rags and other materials, which can lead to infections. Additionally, the lack of private restrooms in these camps makes it difficult for them to change and bathe. Some girls have reported being afraid to use the toilets due to harassment.
It is clear that something must be done to address these challenges faced by the African girl child.
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In terms of education, the governments of African countries with high female illiteracy rates need to take this issue seriously. Building semi-standard schools is not enough; those in rural areas should be educated on the importance of sending their daughters to school. Families found marrying off their daughters instead of educating them should also be penalized as a deterrent.
While several foundations and NGOs are working to address the issue of menstrual financial strain, more can be done. The first step would be to reduce the cost of these products.
A BBC survey found that a woman earning minimum wage in Ghana would have to spend $3 out of every $7 she makes on sanitary pads, while a woman earning minimum wage in the US would only need to spend $3 out of $1,200. Tampon taxes, which are taxes imposed on feminine hygiene products, are one reason these products are not affordable. These taxes are treated as “luxury taxes,” meaning that governments view sanitary products as non-essential and place higher taxes on them than on everyday items. If these taxes were scrapped, sanitary products would become more affordable for most girls.
In addition, special attention should be given to the sanitary needs of girls in refugee camps. Clean water, sanitary products, and at least semi-private toilets should be provided so these girls can maintain proper hygiene.
International Day of the Girl Child offers us the opportunity to celebrate girls. But it is not enough to make speeches in their honor and offer encouragement. The African girl child faces real problems, and these cannot be solved by flowery speeches alone, but by concrete action.
